By — Dan Sagalyn Dan Sagalyn Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/asia-july-dec09-sageman_10-26 Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Former CIA Officer Weighs In on Afghan Strategy World Oct 26, 2009 12:30 PM EDT As the Obama administration considers changes to its Afghan war strategy, former CIA operative Marc Sageman discusses working in Afghanistan and what the new strategy should entail. Sageman said the U.S. focus on Afghanistan is due to al-Qaida’s attacks on the United States and its harboring of people involved in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, not trade or other strategic interests. “Our only purpose for our stay in Afghanistan is really to prevent potential transnational threat to the U.S. homeland,” and now that threat is no longer in Afghanistan, he said. More Afghan conversations: Rory Stewart, author who spent two years walking across Afghanistan Bruce Riedel, former CIA officer and author Ashraf Ghani, former Afghan finance minister and presidential candidate We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Dan Sagalyn Dan Sagalyn As the deputy senior producer for foreign affairs and defense at the PBS NewsHour, Dan plays a key role in helping oversee and produce the program’s foreign affairs and defense stories. His pieces have broken new ground on an array of military issues, exposing debates simmering outside the public eye. @DanSagalyn
As the Obama administration considers changes to its Afghan war strategy, former CIA operative Marc Sageman discusses working in Afghanistan and what the new strategy should entail. Sageman said the U.S. focus on Afghanistan is due to al-Qaida’s attacks on the United States and its harboring of people involved in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, not trade or other strategic interests. “Our only purpose for our stay in Afghanistan is really to prevent potential transnational threat to the U.S. homeland,” and now that threat is no longer in Afghanistan, he said. More Afghan conversations: Rory Stewart, author who spent two years walking across Afghanistan Bruce Riedel, former CIA officer and author Ashraf Ghani, former Afghan finance minister and presidential candidate We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now